The conservation of Knight’s Pond and Blueberry Hill, shown here, had been one of dozens of initiatives that were in jeopardy because of uncertainty over the Land for Maine’s Future program. 2015 File Photo/Derek Davis

Gov. Paul LePage has frozen $2 million in bond money that Land for Maine’s Future already has on hand – the latest effort by his administration to assert control over the program that distributes voter-approved bond funds to conservation projects.

About 30 applicants who are seeking funds to move their projects forward received a letter this month from Sarah Demers, director of Land for Maine’s Future, telling them that money targeted for legal costs and other expenses is now unavailable.

“This letter is to inform you that at this time, LMF funds are not available for acquisitions and legal review of due diligence items necessary to complete your project,” the letter reads. “We ask that you continue to keep … (LMF) informed of your plans to either continue with the project or to forgo LMF funds.”

Founded in 1987, Land for Maine’s Future is a competitive grant program for conservation projects. To date, more than 570,000 acres across the state have been protected, the majority of which have been working forests, farmlands and commercial waterfront property.

The program operates through the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, but money for the projects comes from bonds that must be approved by voters and then released by the governor. It is the state’s primary funding stream for land conservation, and is nearly always supplemented by funds from other sources, including the federal government, municipalities, private corporations, land trusts and individual donors.

PROJECTS STALLED, LMF FRUSTRATED

Demers said Monday that although she received no written directive from the governor’s office to withhold funds, the request did come from LePage through her boss, Walter Whitcomb, commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

However, Jonathan LaBonte, director of the LePage administration’s Office of Policy and Management, which is currently investigating LMF’s operation, said the directive is not new.

“The governor has said consistently that there would not be a drawdown of bond funds for projects,” he said.

LePage already has withheld $6.5 million in bonds approved by voters in 2010 and another $5 million approved in 2012. The 2010 bonds have effectively expired and must be reauthorized by the Legislature if they are to be used.

The governor has acknowledged that he has held back bonds to gain political leverage for his plan to increase timber harvesting on state-owned lands to help pay for residential energy-efficiency programs for low-income Mainers.

The difference between those actions and his freezing of the $2 million or so in current cash on hand is that the latter already has been bonded and is sitting in an account available to the LMF program.

LMF board member Neil Piper said he was never under the impression that the governor was going to freeze the existing funds, and that he has become increasingly frustrated with LePage’s interference.

“We’re in a tough bind as public (board) members trying to do what’s best for the public’s interest,” he said.

Among the 30 projects that have been approved but still await funding are conservation of 215 acres around Knight Pond and Blueberry Hill in Cumberland and North Yarmouth, and the 164-acre Howard Hill project across from the State House in Augusta.

Theresa Kerchner, executive director of the Kennebec Land Trust that is working on the Howard Hill conservation, has said the project is in limbo because of the governor’s actions, and the trust has been debating whether to borrow money to keep the project on track.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT DUE NOV. 1

Depending on how long the current freeze lasts, other projects also could be at risk.

Piper said it’s unfortunate that worthy projects are being held up for political reasons.

The LMF board is made up of six public representatives – all appointed by the governor – and the commissioners of the departments of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife; Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; and Marine Resources.

At a meeting in July, four board members – including the three from LePage’s Cabinet – were absent and the board had no quorum to vote on agenda items.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. Demers expects a quorum to be present, but Piper said the board may decide against holding future meetings until the governor “makes clear what his intentions are.”

The latest hold on funding comes as the LePage administration prepares an investigative report on the Land for Maine’s Future program. The due date for providing the report to lawmakers is Nov. 1.

Board members will hear an update on that effort Tuesday from LaBonte, who has led the review of LMF’s operation over the past few months.

Demers provided a copy of the 50-page draft report from the governor’s office Monday, but said it is not complete. Although the draft includes information about how Land for Maine’s Future was formed, how it operates and how it’s funded, it doesn’t outline any issues raised or provide recommendations for improvements, which the administration has said was the point of the review.

Piper said what he’s seen is little more than “boilerplate, cut-and-paste material.”

“I’m not hopeful at this point that there is going to be anything useful,” he said.

LaBonte didn’t dispute Piper’s contention on the material that has been provided so far.

“That was the stuff that was easy to punch out,” he said. “We wanted to get that in the board’s hands.”

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Good, they shouldn’t be forwarding their liberal agenda on the taxpayers dime. Maine has enough land “preserved”, we NEED more development.

KennebunkportIndependent

Great! We will bulldoze your house first, since you are ‘on board’.

downeastlaw

The taxpayers approved these investments in public land!

Thunder_Hole

So conservatives like you think have a right to over turn a vote of the people of Maine? That’s called fascism! Glad you came out of your right wing closet and let us know what you and your Tea Bagger pals really are!

DefNotADem

Its call “process”. He has a duty to decide what should and shouldn’t go forward.

If you want to complain you should have done so when Baldacci held back Education funding via curtailments forcing schools to send out pink slips mid year. This happened 2 times that i know of. This was not the will of the people. After all they passed a citizen referendum that the state pay 55% of education costs. The state has yet to hit 55%.

quark

“But Mpmmy, he did it toooooooo” is the best defense you can dream up?

Sure shows no REAL defense exists!

DefNotADem

The defense is that he has a duty to make the decision as he sees is best for the state.

Keith Perkins

Move back to Mississippi bonehead.

odd999

have you forgotten that the funds in question won a referendum election ( that means more than 50% of the vote?; Lepage is ignoring the wishes of the majority of the voters whether liberal or conservatiive

DefNotADem

Which he has a duty to do. The forwarding of bonds as the Governor sees fit is part of the process.

MEPac

A duty to ignore the will of the people? What kind of country do you want to live in?

KennebunkportIndependent

‘Teabagistan’??

DefNotADem

His duty is to the fiscal health of the state and to make sure bond funds are spent responsibility.

proudmoonbat

How about we put an airport and a scrap metal yard next to your house? Do your part for the cause.

mycountry

The article states that 570,000 acres are currently conservation protected. Maybe we need to have a discussion on how many more taxpaying acres should be taken off the tax rolls so as to increase the tax burden on the reminder of tax paying citizens.

justanotherfakename

Have a discussion?…We did, and that resulted in the voter approved bonds that LePage refuses to release. Try to pay attention.

proudmoonbat

That discussion should include the topic of why property taxes are out of proportion to services provided, median income, home values, etc. The tampering with of revenue sharing has put an undue burden on towns, especially small rural ones. The money goes to Augusta and then what? Follow the trail.

There are other ways to raise revenues and relieve tax burdens besides cutting down trees, clearing land, putting up buildings, etc. If a company has a great plan, wants to come here, build something, employ people, pay taxes, etc., folks will consider it, but how often has this happened during LePage’s reign? How many new businesses has he attracted, how much additional revenue has it raised and how many good jobs were created?

Having a giant yard sale of everything Maine has for resources and inviting out of state corporations to buy it for pennies on the dollar is not fiscally wise. We have ample natural resources that need to be protected and valued.

AliceOfForethought

the taxpayers are the ones who overwhelmingly approved this, genius.

essbird

Democracy is such a problem when it doesn’t work his way.

Thunder_Hole

Once again, LePage spits on the voters democratic process of the people of Maine and shows the world what he really is! I guess its government of, by and for LePage and his Heritage Center masters!

IMPEACH LEPAGE!!!

CruiserSailor

As I wrote in this very forum before the elections,”If LePage wins you ain’t seen nottin yet”—here’s your sign!

Devonshade

This oddball bully thug is no friend to Maine.

Amoment

I am so sick of this bleepin’ idiot; for the sake of all of us who are sane, bounce him….

crobert

Isn’t there a judge in the State that can declare this idiot insane, and boot him out of office. So many of you and others have said, ENOUGH! He’s dragging this State down.

Dominofrost

He is an idiot. I tried to have some respect for him… I really did. In the beginning, there was a thread of hope that he was actually that ‘regular guy’ that people talked about. I really don’t think regular people are that dumb, though. When you are arrogant AND stupid, that is a special kind of idiot, and, most of the time the two combine to make a bully. There ya go, “conservatives”…….. Have fun living this one down….

KennebunkportIndependent

I am with you on this. But it is only a matter of time before ‘conservatives’ start telling ‘libs’ to pipe down….after all, Paulie was elected by a plurality of a voter turnout of just 27%, they will say……

CautiousTaxPayer

How can this be going on!!! Can’t the legislature step in and do anything about any of this? Isn’t there anything in the state’s constitution that protects the rights of taxpayers and voters to determine the will of the people has to be followed? How can this be legal……

Christopher White

Yet another example, as if one were needed, that the Man in the Blaine House works for his own aggrandizement and for a few special interest groups, not the People of Maine. Faced with solid majority support for these voter-approved bonds our fearless leader stamps his foot, claims he’s only out to help Grammie & Gramps stay warm this winter and, oh, by the way, let’s clear cut some public lands for the profit of certain of his special friends. Time for the legislature to grow some backbone and impeach the Man in the Blaine House before he finishes destroying our state.

Jeff Kingston

What sort of imbecile is this Marden’s Markdown Special? The voters approved these bonds. His is a total fool!